FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT 1882 – 1945

Franklin Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882 into a wealthy and wellknown family. As a boy Roosevelt never went to public schools*.

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* public school — a free school maintained by taxes, especially an elementary or secondary school.

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An only child, he often travelled with his parents in Europe. He learned for­eign languages. He had public tutors. When he was 14 he was sent to Groton, a private school. Later Roosevelt went to Harvard University. He was a tall, lean, good-look­ing boy. He went out for the football team and the crew. He never made the varsity, though he tried. But all his life he was proud of having been editor of the school paper his senior year.

After Harvard, Roosevelt studied law. He married a distant cousin, name Eleanor Roosevelt*.

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*Roosevelt, Eleanor (1884-1962) — the wife of President Fran­klin D. Roosevelt, became a distinguished public figure in her own right. She was one of the most active first ladies in American history.

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Eleanor’s father was dead, so at the wedding Franklin’s cousin, President Teddy Roosevelt*, gave the bride away.

Franklin Roosevelt greatly admired his cous­in Teddy. Like Teddy, Franklin believed that politics offered a wealthy man chance to serve his country. But Teddy was a Repub­lican, Franklin’s father was a Democrat. So Franklin joined the Democratic party.

Franklin began his career by running for the New York State Legislature. No one though he had a chance, because most peo­ple in his country were Republicans. Fran­klin hired a bright red automobile so he could travel and meet people. To almost everybody’s surprise he was elected.

Franklin was delighted when President Wil­son appointed him assistant secretary of the navy, a post Teddy Roosevelt had once held. In his new job he worked hard to build a good navy. When World War I began, Roo­sevelt wanted to quit his job and join the navy as a fighting man. But President Wil­son* would not let him go.

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* Wilson, Woodrow (1856-1924) — 28th President of theU. S. 1913-1921

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His work as an assistant secretary was too important.

After the war Roosevelt was nominated by the Democrats to run for Vice President. Campaigning gave him chance to meet peo­ple all around the country, but he and the presidential candidate, Governor James Cox of Ohio, were defeated.

Then in 1921, something happened to change the whole course of Roosevelt’s life. Quite suddenly he became ill with polio. For a while he couldn’t move his arms or legs. Slowly, almost by sheer willpower, he fought his way back. He regained the use of his hands and arms. He spent long hours swim­ming and exercising. He was never again able to walk without braces on his legs and crutches, but he developed very powerful arms and shoulders.

Even while he was sick, Roosevelt kept his interest in politics. In 1924, walking on crutches, he appeared at the Democratic National convention to nominate Al Smith for President. Smith was defeated, but he persuaded Roosevelt to run for governor of New York in 1928.

Roosevelt was elected. He was in office when the Great Depression of the 1930s began. All over the country business began to fail. Millions of people were out of work. With no job they could not buy new houses or automobiles to more businesses failed, and more people were put out of work. Banks failed and families lost their savings.

As governor of New York, Roosevelt used the power of the state to help businesses and people who were out of work. He talked to the people over the radio. He called these talks fireside chats, and in them he told the people what he was trying to do.

Partly because of these talks, the Democrats nominated Roosevelt for President in 1932. Herbert Hoover*, the Republican President, was running for a second term.

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* Hoover, Herbert Calrk (1874-1964) — 31я- President of the U.S. 1929-1933

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Many peo­ple blamed Hoover for the Depression. This was not fair, but it helped Roosevelt to win.

By the time Roosevelt took office, the De­pression had grown still worse. More than 5000 banks had failed. Many people were out of work, hungry and waited in long queues, called bread queues, for food. Many had lost their homes.

Roosevelt took action. First he declared a bank holiday. This closed all the banks so no more could fail. Then the banks were reopened a few at a time with government help. Roosevelt asked for new laws to help the farmers and small businessmen. He asked for new laws to help people about to love their homes Quickly Congress passed the laws Roosevelt asked for. The President’s own confidence made people more confident.

Roosevelt found it difficult to travel, so often Mrs Roosevelt travelled for him. She went everywhere. She talked to people all over the country, then went home to tell the President what was needed. Eleanor Roosevelt became the best known and most widely loved of all First Ladies.

In the election of 1936 Franklin Roosevelt carried every state in the Union except two. He kept on with social reforms gradually times got better. Roosevelt believed in us­ing the full power of the government to help what he called the forgotten man. By this he meant the small businessmen, the work­er, the wage earner. And it was then people who came to love him most deeply. They felt that they knew him personally.

On the other hand there were many who honestly believed that Roosevelt’s methods were destroyed the American system of gov­ernment. They hated him in the same in­tense way that other people loved him.

By 1939 Roosevelt and the nation had a new problem to face. World War II began in Europe. Roosevelt, like most Americans, wanted the Allies to win. At the same time he hoped America could stay out of the war. As one country after another was defeated by the Germans, Roosevelt sent more and more supplies to the British.

In 1940, the Democrats nominated Roosevelt for a third term. No President had ever served three terms, not even Washington. Many people believed no President should serve more than twice, although there was no law against it at that time. But Roo­sevelt did not want to quit while the nation was in danger. He loved power and he en­joyed being President. He accepted the nom­ination and won an easy victory.

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese bom­barded Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and Ameri­ca was plunged into war. Now there were tremendous decisions to be made. Roosevelt met often with Winston Churchill, the Brit­ish prime minister, and with other Allied leaders. They made the plans for war around the world.

In 1944 the war was still going on. Roo­sevelt was elected for the fourth time. But now the terrible strain and the long hours of work were destroying his health. His face had a grey look. Then his famous smile would flash and he would look strong again.

And President Roosevelt had enough ener­gy to start another major project. He played an important part in setting an another world organization. In the summer and au­tumn of 1944 representatives of the Unit­ed States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union and Nationalist China met at Dumbarton Oaks*, in Washington, D.C.

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* Dumbarton Oaks— the name of an international conference held in August-October 1944 at Dumbarton Oaks, an estate in Washington D.C.

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They drafted plans for what became known as the Unit­ed Nation. Its charter was drawn up the next year (when Truman* was President) in San Francisco.

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* Truman, Harry S (1884-1972) — 33rd President of the U.S. 1945-1953

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On April 12, 1945, Roosevelt was resting at his cottage in Warm Springs, Georgia. An artist was painting his picture. Suddenly he put a hand to his head and fell backward in his chair. A few hours later he was dead.

All over the world people from every walk of life mourned the President. In Europe, on ships at sea, in the jungles of the South Pacific, soldiers and sailors went openly. As one sailor said, “It’s tough when one of your buddies has to go, and President Roo­sevelt was our buddy”. Many millions of peo­ple felt the same way.